Love Bred by Hatred

Episode5

Samantha's POV

"You look so pale and worn out. I'd have thought you were a starved vampire if I didn't know you personally," Marcus teased, his face full of smile as he walked into the balcony with a truly freshly baked dessert.

"I'm looking this pale because I'm doing your own share of the work. Don't you think it's time you got serious and I got a break?" I asked with a glare, and he winked at me with a toothy grin.

"Hell no. I hate paper work. Besides, I'm the investor, and you are the owner. Your work is to deal with the paper work while I pump in the cash," he explained as he held a cookie to my mouth.

With an eye roll, I bit into the cookie and flipped my middle finger at him. "I hate you with all my heart," I grumbled, and he laughed. "No, you love me the most."

"So how is it going? Making profit already?" He asked with a serious expression as he munched on the cookies. "So far, sales have been good. We can add the bakery to our firms soon, although I'm thinking it should remain stand-alone," I explained, and he hummed with a thoughtful expression.

"Well, adding it to the company will give it smooth sailing and more credibility with our partners, but given that it just started up, we can still hold up on it to eliminate it facing competition troubles," he advised, and I nodded in understanding.

"It's been five years since you got back to the counter; are you really not going to go home to your family?" I asked as a change of topic while putting down the files I was working on to properly face him.

At the mention of his family, he scrunched up his nose and glared at me. "As much as I don't want to go, I got a call that the old man is sick, so I will have to go back and see all their ugly faces," he grumbled, taking a bite of the cupcake.

"And they've had so much peace in that house. It's time I throw in some troubles, don't you think?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes, earning him a slap on the lap from me.

"Can you not be serious for once?" I asked with a glare, and he pouted as he rubbed the spot where he had been slapped.

"But I'm being serious here! Everyone is practically walking on eggshells, pretending to live in peace, while they can't wait to stab the others in the back. I just want to add a little bit of fun to it," he grumbled.

"Marcus..." I trailed off, seriously feeling worried about the mischievous devil sitting in front of me.

For the past five years, after my divorce from Colton, Marcus has been my pillar of support. Showing up when I needed him the most.

He had helped me through the emotional and physical breakdown, slowly making my guarded heart relax. However, despite having lived together for five years, our relationship remains platonic.

None of us was in love with the other.

To describe it in context, our relationship is one based on benefits. At least that was how it started off. He wanted something that only I could give, and I need support, mentally and physically.

And although he had been able to hold off his mischievousness, I know he could no longer wait to start on his line of planned schemes.

"What do you think will happen if they find out that I have their percent of the company's shares?" He asked with a hum, and I sighed.

"The competition that just ended will start all over again. Back to square one, but this time with a bigger competitor," I replied, and he grinned as he tossed his legs over the other while hiding his sinister grin under his palm.

"And then what do you think will happen when they find out I have no interest in acquiring the company? I mean, how would they react if they knew I just wanted to see them buried under, deeper than six feet?"

"Marcus..."

"Don't spoil my fun and just answer," he demanded with a glare, and I sighed.

"You'll be their target. They'd want the share in your hand, so the possibility is either them hanging up to deal with you or they'll deal with themselves, and the winner comes after you," I replied, and he nodded before standing up to leave.

"Do you really have to do it?" I asked, and he shrugged casually. "I don't have a reason not to. Until I do, I'm going on with my plans. I have everything I need already, and selling the shares to their competitors will earn me more money."

"With that, I can live a comfortable and lazy life for the rest of my life," he winked, pulling me up. "Someone get dressed; you promised to go to the planetarium with me today," he pouted.

Throughout the drive to the planetarium, my mind wandered over the place, thinking about the pros and cons of the action he was about to take.

To an extent, I can understand his pain and agony. But was the revenge worth it?

Did he forget that not only those he hated would be affected, but even those he wanted to protect would be affected?

Aren't their feelings worth anything to him?

With all those questions roaming around in my head, my thoughts drifted to my ex-husband and ex-best friends.

If I have the opportunity, will I want to get revenge on them?

Do I want them to go through the pain they made me go through?

As I thought about it, I began to see things from Marcus' point of view. "Don't think about it too much; with too much thinking come the doubts. Do it and then think about it later," Marcus winked and then stopped the car.

As I stepped out, I heard my name being called "Samantha." Vivienne called out, and as I looked towards them, I got my answer.

Maybe I would want them to suffer.

Maybe I would want them to regret every day of their lives with my name etched in the deepest part of their bones.

And that's exactly what I would do.